It is the first time the Prime Minister has commented on the US President’s hugely controversial “zero tolerance” policy on illegal immigration, which has been roundly criticised on both sides of the Atlantic.

Mrs May stated it was not the “British way” to treat migrants in the manner currently being witnessed on the US border, but she refused to cancel Mr Trump’s planned visit to the UK next month.

Deeply disturbing

Responding to a question from the SNP’s leader in the Commons Ian Blackford on whether the UK should be “rolling out the red carpet” for the President, Mrs May said: “The pictures of children being held in what appear to be cages are deeply disturbing.

“This is wrong, this is not something we agree with, this is not the United Kingdom’s approach. Indeed, when I was home secretary, I ended the routine detention of families with children.”

The Prime Minister said she would challenge Mr Trump on the issue when he arrives for a formal visit on Friday 13 July.

“When we disagree with the United States we tell them so,” she told MPs.

“But we also have key shared interests. It is right that we are able to sit down and discuss those with the President – a president of a country with which we will continue to have a long-standing special relationship.”

Trump invite revoked

Labour MP Gavin Shuker said Mr Trump had locked up 2,000 little children in cages and was refusing to release them until he is allowed to build a wall along the US-Mexico border.

“What does this man have to do to have the invitation she has extended revoked?,” he asked.

Mrs May said she had “clearly and wholly unequivocally” said Mr Trump’s actions were wrong.

Her comments came after one of the Government’s junior ministers appeared to break ranks to criticise the US for its actions.

Sam Gyimah, universities minister, took to Twitter to express his dismay with the policy.

“Separating children from their parents in this way is beyond dreadful. This policy is indefensible, pure and simple!” he tweeted late on Tuesday night.

Traumatic and cruel

Mrs May had come under fire on Tuesday for declining to criticise the US directly despite several other Tory and Labour MPs expressing their anger at the “shocking” pictures of children being caged by US authorities.

On Tuesday, Tory chair of the Commons foreign affairs select committee Tom Tugendhat described the actions as “deeply saddening”.

“The US is one of the great champions of liberty in the world,” he said. “These scenes are deeply saddening and remind me more of Iraq and Afghanistan. It is traumatic and cruel to separate children from their parents. The US is better than this.”

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